2

She could not sleep. The words from Caroline burned into her brain and would not go away no matter how many times she told herself that her cousin was a liar. Abigail violently threw back her covers and scrambled from the bed. She did not bother with a robe to cover her thin nightgown. She knew no one would be up at this hour and she knew that her father's guests had retired to their rooms. Abigail slightly opened her door and looked out to find the hallway empty and quiet. She quickly left her room and quietly closed her door. She ran down the hall towards Prince Abraham's room with anger in her body. Caroline's words were all that she could think about as she rounded the corner. She was going to give her future husband a tongue lashing.

Abraham stared at the ceiling wondering how he was going to get out of this predicament. His father had asked his men to keep Abraham in his room and they would because they loved the King. The King also knew that Abraham would not harm any of his men. They were like family to him.

He had done nothing right so far. He had not picked the ugly one. Both women were beautiful but Abigail had something more that peeked more than just interest in him. A smile formed on his lips until a solid knock sounded on his door. He sat up shirtless in his bed as the door opened without his consent. She stood there in bathed in moonlight and barely anything else. The material that she wore was so thin that the moonlight showed him her curves, hills and valley.

The smile returned to his face as he stared at the anger on hers. There was that something more about her that peeked more than just his interest.

"Do come in," She angrily walked into the room as Orion appeared behind her. Abraham sent him away. The general smiled and closed the door. Abigail was so angry that she did not notice him behind her the entire time.

"So I am not as good as Caroline!"

Abraham lost his smile. "What are you speaking of?"

"You wanted to choose first and would have chosen her and now you want to leave here because you have to marry me?"

Abraham moved the covers back and got out of his bed. "A punishment that I will gladly fulfill."

She of course did not hear that. She heard it is my duty to perform this because you are the only woman left. She moved closer to the towering bare chested giant with aggression in her body. "As if marrying you is some great reward."

"It will be for you…Caroline talks about all your suitors and their broken hearts. Such a reputation you have here I thought you would need to clear your name by taking mine."

"I am not as she says!"

Abraham loved her ferocity and moved even closer to her watching her body in the thin night dress. "Well you are here now in a strange man's room in a thing that I would not say covers anything."

Abigail did not hear any of that all she heard was you are displaying that loose type of behavior right now. She could not control her anger anymore and took a swing at Abraham. He easily caught her right hand and then her left. He placed them both behind her back and forced her into his chest. He began chuckling when she tried to head butt him. he grabbed a handful of her loose black hair and pulled. A sound more of frustration than pain came from her. Abraham placed his lips near her ear.

"Wife,"

"I am not your WIFE!"

A smiled formed on his face. "You will be."

"No I will run away."

Abraham raised an eyebrow. If she could come in his room without knocking or caring who saw her; she was capable of running away. He pulled his head back and stared down into her face of fury. She was breathtaking with anger. His body throbbed with need.

Abigail smiled at his perplexed expression. "What do you think about that Prince Abraham? I am not afraid to walk right out of this house and away from being second best."

Abraham slammed his lips down on hers and caught her off guard. He silenced her scream but not her fighting body. He held her so tight that Abigail could not breathe even as she struggled to escape him. His muscled body turned and he flipped her onto his bed. His weight followed her down to the bed and all the air in her lungs left her body. Abraham pulled his lips from hers and glared down at her. She was still angry but disoriented. She was still beautiful.

"I will see you tomorrow or I will tie you to your bed and place a guard outside your door."

Abigail could not get his kiss out of her mind and its devastating effects out of her body. She focused on his angry blue eyes and tried to head butt him again but Abraham avoided it and then his lips claimed hers again.

*()*

Something was amiss. Angela remarked when she saw the Prince's general standing outside Abigail's door. When he handed her a blade she then knew her daughter had done something that even the Prince found unforgivable. Angela wondered what she could have done because Abigail's intended husband was already dressed to wed her early this morning. She knew that he wanted to return home but he was determined to return home with his bride. Even though she knew that the Prince found her daughter pleasing to his eyes, Angela still worried about how he would accept the way she acted. She had a horrible temper and that sometimes got the better of her. Caroline was very good at making her angry. Angela saw Orion's smile as he left the door.

Abigail closed her eyes and pretended sleep when her mother opened the door and stared at her tied to the four posts of her bed. "ABIGAIL! what…"

Abigail opened her eyes. 'I did nothing…H…."

Angela groaned in frustration and began cutting the sheets from the posts. "I think it's some kind warrior's knots. I could not loosen it."

Angela rolled her eyes. "You are too much sometimes. What did you do!"

Abigail relaxed when her right wrist fell to the bed. "I did nothing."

The look on her mother's beautiful face made her rethink her lie. Angela walked over to the other side of the bed and began cutting. "What did you do?"

"Well I was angry because Caroline told me that Prince Ichabod told her that Abraham wanted to pick her but he was the oldest and that he had to settle for me. So after that I tried to sleep but I couldn't and I got up and went to his room."

Angela stopped cutting and looked down at the thin night dress that Abigail wore. Light ran right through it. She thought that she had thrown it away but Abigail was attached to it because she said it was soft and she liked the feel of it against her skin. The Prince saw more than any man had ever seen. "Wearing this and nothing else,"

"Yes I was angry and I just walked right inside without him inviting me."

Angela carefully listened to her every word. "He just stared at me, smiled and kissed me then he threw me down on the bed and kissed me again. I did nothing to provoke this mother."

Angela began smiling as she sliced through the sheet. Well he had his first taste of Abigail's behavior and showed her some of his. They were perfect for each other. "I know you child and you had everything to do with this."

Angela quickly moved to her feet. "Now when I am done with this I want you to bathe. Everyone is down stairs waiting for you."

Abigail frowned. "I don't want to marry him."

Angela chuckled. "He wants to marry you. I was afraid that your natural behavior would make your relationship troublesome but I see that the Prince has some natural behaviors of his own. I will not worry about you one day but I will always love you."

Abigail lost most of her frown and smiled as Angela finished cutting her free. "Now go bathe."

*()*

"Prince Abraham this is Barton Orlander. He is the young man that you asked attend the small gathering." William held his anger in check as he introduced Abigail's attacker to her future husband. Barton held out his hand but Abraham made no move to shake it.

Barton slowly lowered his hand. "I know that you are here to marry Abigail but I have something to say."

Henry was intrigued to know what a man said to another man when he had wrong that man's woman. Barton turned his attention to William. "Abigail can't marry the Prince because she is carrying my child."

Henry crinkled his brow at the response that Barton gave and he was pretty sure this was not the correct thing to say to a woman's intended. William lunged for Barton for his lying about Abigail but Orion held him firmly in place. Abraham had not even shown one ounce of emotion. "She has a scar on her thigh that I gave her."

Abraham slowly smiled. "Well you see that is impossible because Abigail does not have a single scar on her entire body. I checked…. twice."

William smiled at Abraham's retort until he thought about it and then frowned at the Prince. Barton did something unexpected and stupid. He took a swing at Abraham as Caroline and Abigail were walking down the stairs wearing the same dress so Caroline would not complain. Abigail knew the punishment for taking a swing at the Prince but Barton's punishment was more severe. Abraham eluded the blow and countered with one of his own and Barton went down to the floor in a heap. Two men from the King's army dragged the unconscious man from the room. Ichabod chuckled and shook his head.

"That was interesting but I thought that he would give a better explanation than that." Henry nodded in agreement.

Abraham looked towards the steps at Abigail standing there staring at him in dark blue. The long vest was tight to his body and showed the muscles and dimensions of his power. The pants hugged his lower half and Abigail closed her eyes for a moment remembering his strength from last night and what he could do with it so easily. He was tall and powerful standing there waiting for her to come to his side. Caroline walked next to Ichabod smiling all the way. Ichabod manufactured a return smile but sighed with boredom at these proceedings. Abigail opened her eyes and slowly made her way down the rest of the stairs with him watching her carefully just in case she decided to run. She knew what would happen if she did and it was much worse than being tied to a bed.

Abraham smiled at her. She looked slightly exhausted. He knew that she did not sleep well being tied up and he was sure that on the ride home she would be needing him. Abigail pushed all of her fear aside and rolled her eyes at Abraham before standing beside him.

As the priest talked Abraham gazed at his future wife. She was exquisite in the simple white dress with the long train. The deep scooped neck made him want to see more. He knew how soft her breasts were but had not seen them uncovered. A strand of long black hair somehow reached out and attached itself to the right sleeve of his vest. He let it stay there and he knew that that bothered her but she was not going to move it. She was going to ignore him all day long.

"You may kiss your brides."

Ichabod turned to face Caroline. He quickly laid a peck on her lips. Caroline acted shy and lowered her head.

Abraham stared down Abigail as she stared up at him with disgust in her eyes. She was his wife now. He probably expected her to respond to him when he kissed her, as if she liked it but she was not going to do anything. He had no power over her. Abraham slowly moved closer. He slowly bowed his head towards her and then his lips slowly melted onto hers. Her body went into shock from the gentleness of his actions. Last night he was ruthless with his kiss and his muscle. Today he was coaxing her to join him in creating pleasure. Warmth from her belly flowed throughout her body and loosened her tense limbs. She slowly rose to tips of her toes to get closer to him. Abraham's right arm surrounded her waist and gently pulled her closer to the hard muscle on his body. Abigail's hands rested on his chest and a sweet sound of submission from her filled the room.

Angela raised an eyebrow when Abraham's free hand began gliding up the side of Abigail's dress towards her breast. Henry grabbed his son's hand and Abraham broke off the kiss much to Abigail's dismay.

"Abigail hurry so we can get your things."

Caroline was already running up the stairs. Abigail just stood there looking at Abraham and then slowly turning and looking at her mother. Angela chuckled when her spitfire daughter could not even move or even less think to move. Angela walked over to her and placed her arm around her waist and walked her towards the stairs.

*()*

"Really Abigail you are not being proper bringing that blanket. They have their own blankets with their family crest that are warm. That thing is old and full of holes. You will be dishonoring their name if you bring that thing." Caroline glared at her cousin as they walked out of the stables with Caroline's horse. Of course, Abigail's horse did not like Caroline's mare so they had to take her horse Ember out by herself and let her get acquainted with the other horses in the Kings company. Ichabod helped Caroline onto her horse Mille the bay colored mare had a sweet disposition and would fit in nicely. Ember was another story she neighed and reared up every time anyone tried to touch her. William and Angela glared at Abigail as she faced them while the men in the Kings company tried corralling her destructive mare.

"You are going to live with them I think that you should try to be civil." William said. Angela chuckled.

"Why start now?"

William smiled and now Abigail frowned and it just increased when she heard silence from her midnight colored mare.

"Wife," Abraham's eyes roamed over the backside of his wife in the black riding pants. His clothing suddenly became uncomfortable as he stared at her firm bottom. Even the simple white shirt and black short jacket that she wore caused him fits and he did not like it. He had to give his retort by calling her the one name that she detested... wife.

His voice boomed in the chilly morning air. Abigail closed her eyes and gripped the old blanket in her hands tighter in disgust. She just wanted it to make Abraham look bad that he could not give his wife better things.

Angela smiled at her. "You and the Prince will never have boredom. Now why do you have that rotten blanket?"

Abigail opened her eyes and smiled. "Because he won't like it."

William rolled his eyes and then gathered her in his arms. "Come back and see us when you have at least two children."

Abigail made a face. "I am never having children…. with him."

William chuckled and pulled away from her. Angela rolled her eyes and pulled her into her arms for an embrace. "Just be yourself and all will be as it should….and leave Caroline alone."

Abigail was about to protest but Angela hugged her harder. "I love you with every ounce of my being."

The wind stung her eyes as she turned and walked from her old family towards her new family. Abraham stood beside the calm Ember with his long blonde hair flowing in the breeze and his dark gaze on his wife. She looked tired and on the verge of tears as she approached him.

"I can do this myself."

Abraham did not move back. "I have no doubt that you can but I am going to help you."

He softened his voice because he knew of the warring emotions within her. He gently touched her waist ready to help her into the saddle. He could feel her trembling and moved his body closer to hers until his chest touched her back. Her trembling stopped and he helped her into the saddle. He said nothing about the tattered blanket that she had in her hands. He had one for her but she was going to make that a war. He would just wait it out. In about twenty minutes of riding she would fall asleep and he would get rid of the blanket. Abraham walked towards Daredevil and hoisted himself up into the saddle. He backed his horse beside Ember when he saw Ichabod, Caroline and the King's men heading towards them. He wanted Ember to stay calm and not throw his wife from the saddle. She was not herself without sleep.

Caroline smiled at her now sister as she nudged Millie forward towards Daredevil. The bay colored mare tried to nuzzle the stallion but he was having none of it and flicked his head in annoyance. Millie took the hint and stopped. Caroline reached in her left side saddle bag and pulled out a pouch. She opened it and took out a soft cloth that contained a beautiful necklace. "Aunt Angela gave this to me."

She showed Abigail the necklace that Angela's mother had given her on her wedding day. "I don't know why she would not give it to you. She calls you her daughter. I guess since I am blood and you are not I get it. What did Aunt Angela give you?"

Abigail said nothing as she watched Caroline smirk at her. Henry grunted at her words and watched for Abraham's reaction. His son stayed calm as did his men who did not like anyone insulting the Prince's new bride. Ichabod frowned at his wife and prepared to chastise her but Abigail responded.

"She gave me love and since I have her heart and you don't, I get it all." Daredevil began walking forward and Ember followed him taking Abigail away from the scene.

*()*

Why did she bring this blanket? It smelled terrible and made her itch but she was determined to make a statement with it and once she determined what it was she would make sure everyone knew it. She wrapped it around her body but it was useless. She was freezing and tired. Abigail could barely keep her eyes open as they walked along the bank of the river to get to the bridge. She lowered her head as Orion watched her from the left side. Abraham was on the right ready to pounce. Ichabod and Caroline were behind her. Caroline was noticeably quiet. Ichabod's talk with her was not one filled with love or happiness. Caroline decided that she would make sure that she was alone with Abigail when she wanted to fight with her.

Ember snorted as Abigail began to lean towards the right as Daredevil moved up beside her. Abraham easily scooped her up in his arms and wretched the ratty old blanket from around her body and flung it behind him right at Caroline. Henry gave him the heavy blanket with their family crest on it and Abraham placed it around his chilly wife as she laid against him. He held her tightly and tucked her head under his chin. Henry watched him and smiled at him until Abraham looked at him with a frown and spurred Daredevil forward a few feet. Ember followed behind him.

Caroline threw the blanket to the ground and pulled some of the hay from her mouth. Ichabod watched her for a moment and then spurred his mount forward until he was beside Abraham.

"This is a good way not to touch her brother."

Abraham chuckled as he looked straight ahead. "She was sleepy and she was chilled to the bone. As her husband I must see to her comfort."

Ichabod chuckled. "And what about yours. You know there is a wager going on that she will not make it to your bed at home a virgin."

Abraham grunted. "I will see to her comfort and that is all."

"Really, because that kiss today and father having to save Abigail from your lust said otherwise."

Abraham faced his brother. "I have no use for a wife. Perhaps you have a use for Caroline."

Ichabod looked back at his wife and she suddenly smiled at him. Ichabod returned his gaze towards the front. "Maybe I will join you with the men this month."

Orion chuckled. "If the Prince is even there. The men believe we might not see him."

Abraham crinkled his brow. "I will not be bested by a woman no matter how beautiful she is. I am set in my ways and she will not change that."

Ichabod stared at his brother. He knew just how stubborn he could be and how set in his ways he was. "Name the child after our maternal grandfather, father will love it."

Abraham glared at his brothers back as he chuckled and trotted away with some of the king's men following him.

Author's Notes

Hey I am just as surprised as you are to see another update but this jumped out at me. I hope that you enjoy it . Thank you for reading ~Frostbytefire